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Patty Hearst (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Patty Hearst' is a 1988 American biographical film directed by Paul Schrader and stars Natasha Richardson as Hearst Corporation heiress Patricia Hearst and Ving Rhames as Symbionese Liberation Army leader Cinque. It is based on Hearst's 1982 autobiography 'Every Secret Thing' (co-written with Alvin Moscow), which was later rereleased as 'Patty Hearst Her Own Story'.
The film depicts the kidnapping of student Patty Hearst by the Symbionese Liberation Army, her transformation into an active follower of the SLA after a long-lasting imprisonment and process of purported brainwashing, and her final arrest after a series of armed robberies.
Cast
* Natasha Richardson Patricia Hearst
* William Forsythe William "Teko" Harris
* Ving Rhames Cinque Mtume
* Frances Fisher Yolanda
* Jodi Long Wendy Yoshimura
* Olivia Barash Fahizah
* Dana Delany Gelina
* Marek Johnson Zoya
* Kitty Swink Gabi
* Peter Kowanko Cujo (as Pete Kowanko)
* Tom O'Rourke Jim Browning
* Scott Kraft Steven Weed
* Jeff Imada Neighbor
* Ermal Williamson Randolph A. Hearst
* Elaine Revard Catherine Hearst
* Destiny Reyes Allstun - Vicky Hearst
Production
The film was written by Nicholas Kazan (son of Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan) drawing narration from Hearst's memoir.[http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2021/the-10-best-paul-schrader-movies/2/ The 10 Best Paul Schrader Movies - Page 2 - Taste of Cinema]
'Patty Hearst' premiered at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival on May 13 in the feature film competition. The film opened on September 23, 1988, in the US and grossed $601,680 in its opening weekend. It made a total domestic gross of $1,223,326.[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=pattyhearst.htm 'Patty Hearst'] at Box Office Mojo
Reception
The film garnered a generally mixed critical response, although Richardson's performance was applauded by most critics. Amongst credited critics, the film has a rating of 45% positive reactions on Rotten Tomatoes, with 11 reviews counted.[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/patty_hearst 'Patty Hearst'] at Rotten Tomatoes. Vincent Canby of 'The New York Times' wrote that "'Patty Hearst' is a beautifully produced movie, seen entirely from Patty's limited point of view. It is stylized at times, utterly direct and both shocking and grimly funny."[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DEED61E3AF930A1575AC0A96E948260 Review] in 'The New York Times', 23 September 1988. Roger Ebert writing for the 'Chicago Sun-Times' praised Richardson's performance: "The entire film centers on the remarkable performance by Natasha Richardson as Hearst." but concluded that "This whole story seemed so much more exciting from the outside."[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19880923/REVIEWS/809230305/1023 Review] in the 'Chicago Sun-Times', 23 September 1988.
Pauline Kael called the film "a lean, impressive piece of work" and even suggested that it answered the longstanding mystery about Hearst: "Did Patty Hearst become part of the S.L.A. willingly, out of conviction, or was she simply trying to save her life? The movie shows you that, in the state she was in, there was no difference. Natasha Richardson, who plays Patty, has been handed a big unwritten role; she feels her way into it, and she fills it. We feel how alone and paralyzed Patty is she retreats to being a hidden observer. Patty is a girl who is raped in mind and body, and no longer knows when it started."
References
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